April 2006 In this issue: ACBL Director's report 2005 Point Winners Dave Carter Top 100 Mini-McKenney Ace of Clubs Juniors & Sectionals Director, please February STAC Solvers Forum New column New problems Previous columns Unit News Northwest IL Central IL St. Louis So. IL-Paducah Tournament calendar Tournament winners Ft. Wayne IN Peoria IL Gilbertsville KY Elgin IL Tournament ads CHAMPAIGN REG. SPLIT REGIONAL: Paducah KY Rockford IL ST. LOUIS REG. Effingham IL St. Louis Kokomo IN South Bend IN Back to page 1 (GN Teams) Welcome Printing tips Printable version (condensed April 2006 Published bi- monthly by District 8 of the American Contract Bridge League Editor: Karen Walker, Champaign IL Get your team together for the District 8 Grand National Teams May 6 & 7, 2006 IDOT Building, Springfield IL Saturday, May 6: 1:00 & 7:00 pm -- 2-Session qualifying Sunday, May 7: 10:30 am & TBA -- Knockout finals 12:30 pm -- Open Pairs side game Trips to Chicago -- and regional-rated gold points -- are featured in the 2006 District 8 finals of this national team event. Any team of four, five or six District 8 members can enter in one of four separate flights: Championship: Open Flight A: 0-5000 masterpoints Flight B: 0-2000 Flight C: 0-500 (non-LMs) The winning team in each flight will receive a travel award from the District Board to play in the national finals in Chicago in July. Your flight eligibility is determined by the number of masterpoints you held on September 1, 2005. Directions: The IDOT (Illinois Dept. of Transportation) Building is at 2300 S. Dirksen Parkway, just west of I-55 between exits 94 and 96 (South Grand and Stevenson Drive exits). Take escalator down to the playing area. Sunday side game: This is a stratified, sectional-rated pairs event that is open to all. You do not have to have played in the GNT event to enter. Event coordinator: Georgia Heth -- 309-263-0242 [email protected]
Transcript
April 2006
In this issue:
ACBL Director's report
2005 Point WinnersDave Carter Top 100Mini-McKenneyAce of ClubsJuniors & Sectionals
Director, please
February STAC
Solvers Forum New columnNew problemsPrevious columns
Unit News Northwest IL Central IL St. Louis So. IL-Paducah
Tournament calendar
Tournament winnersFt. Wayne IN Peoria IL Gilbertsville KYElgin IL
Tournament adsCHAMPAIGN REG.
SPLIT REGIONAL: Paducah KY Rockford IL
ST. LOUIS REG.Effingham IL
St. Louis
Kokomo INSouth Bend IN
Back to page 1 (GN Teams)
Welcome
Printing tips
Printable version (condensed
April 2006
Published bi-monthly by District 8
of the American Contract
Bridge League
Editor: Karen Walker,
Champaign IL
Get your team together for the
District 8 Grand National TeamsMay 6 & 7, 2006
IDOT Building, Springfield IL
Saturday, May 6: 1:00 & 7:00 pm -- 2-Session qualifying
Sunday, May 7: 10:30 am & TBA -- Knockout finals 12:30 pm -- Open Pairs side game
Trips to Chicago -- and regional-rated gold points -- are featured in the 2006 District 8 finals of this national team event. Any team of four, five or six District 8 members can enter in one of four separate flights:
The winning team in each flight will receive a travel award from the District Board to play in the national finals in Chicago in July.
Your flight eligibility is determined by the number of masterpoints you held on September 1, 2005.
Directions: The IDOT (Illinois Dept. of Transportation) Building is at 2300 S. Dirksen Parkway, just west of I-55 between exits 94 and 96 (South Grand and Stevenson Drive exits). Take escalator down to the playing area.
Sunday side game: This is a stratified, sectional-rated pairs event that is open to all. You do not have to have played in the GNT event to enter.
District 8 Representative on the ACBL Board of Directors
Hello everyone! This article is going to be all about my favorite subject, the Grand National Teams. I want to cheerlead for this year's event and warn you about a rules change for next year's event.
The District 8 Final (the only stage held in District 8) is coming up soon -- May 6 and 7 at the IDOT Building in Springfield IL. Full details are in this issue of the Advocate. I have heard from some new teams that are planning on coming, and they and I are hoping we'll have a large turnout. Ever the optimist, I have made plans to accommodate a surge in attendance.
With the national stage of the competition being held in Chicago in July, it can hardly be more convenient or cheaper for our people to participate. Plus, this is the last year that admission into the event will be based on the District you belong to. So for all of you people who are members of District 8 but have been living in another district, this is the last year that you will be automatically eligible to play in our District.
New residence rules: Beginning with the 2006-2007 Grand National Teams (GNT) and the 2007-2008 North American Pairs (NAP), your eligibility for these events will be determined by the district where you are living on the first day of the event -- September 1 for the GNT and June 1 for the NAP. If your actual home residence is in another ACBL district, you are not eligible to play in the District 8 GNT or NAP unless you get permission before the event begins. This rule applies even to those who live in border areas but have previously chosen to be members of District 8.
If you live outside District 8 but want to play in our finals of these events, you must start the application process by April 1 for the NAP and by June 1 for the GNT. If you are going to play in one of the lower flights (B or C of the NAPs; A, B or C of the GNTs), you need the permission of the ACBL Board of Directors member from the district where you reside and the district you want to play in. If you want to play in the top flight for either event (Flight A of the NAP; Championship flight of the GNT), you need to get the same two consents plus permission from the ACBL Credentials Committee. If any party refuses your request, it is denied and there is no right of appeal. Please note that if you want to be considered for a residence exception for the GNT event that ends in July 2007, you must start the process by June 1, 2006.
For more information: There will be further details on this issue in the ACBL Bulletin and on the
ACBL website. If you have questions, please write or call me. My email is [email protected] and my home address is 917 South Main Street, Morton IL 61550. My home phone is (309) 263-0242. Please contact me by email if possible.
Early news from Dallas NAP: I'll report more details from the Dallas Board meetings in our June newsletter. I can tell you now that all three of our District 8 pairs made the cut for the second day of the Flight A North American Pair national finals. All three placed in the overalls and two pairs finished in the top ten, which I think is pretty good for the smallest district in the ACBL. Special congratulations to Mark Kessler & Ed Schultz (7th overall), Mike Halvorsen & Richard Blumenthal (8th overall) and Milt Zlatic & Tom Oppenheimer (13th overall) for great performances!
I hope to see hundreds of you at the Grand National Teams finals in Springfield next month.
-- Georgia
Dave Carter Top 100Here are District 8's top masterpoint winners and the total points each earned during calendar year 2005. The list is named for the late Dave Carter of St. Louis, who won the national McKenney Trophy in 1954.
1. Colby Vernay, Lacon IL -- 959 2. Will Engel, Freeport IL -- 915 3. Bob Carteaux, Ft. Wayne IN -- 859 4. James Melville, Springfield IL -- 787 5. John Kinst, Batavia IL -- 521 6. Sheldon Margulis, St. Louis -- 490 7. Rod Van Wyk, Alton IL -- 483 8. Jack Bryant, St. Louis -- 468 9. Dick Benson, Le Roy IL -- 46610. Ronda O'Farrell, Chesterfield MO -- 46511. Ralph Behrens, St. Louis -- 44612. Ed Weiss, Chesterfield MO -- 44313. John Killeen, Mishawaka IN -- 38114. Tom Kniest, Univ. City MO -- 37715. Roger Lord, St. Louis -- 37416. Gary Kessler, Springfield IL -- 37317. Jacqueline Sincoff, St. Louis -- 36118. Andrew Carver, Edwardsville IL -- 35419. Nancy Popkin, St. Louis -- 34820. Susan Perez, Maryland Hts MO -- 34521. Sally Chapleau-Russo, Ft Pierce FL -- 34022. James Feinstein, So. Bend IN -- 33623. John Aumiller, Ft. Wayne IN -- 33424. Tom Oppenheimer, Ballwin MO -- 33225. Joshua Stark, Grayslake IL -- 32726. Arbha Vongsvivut, Godfrey IL -- 32627. Suzanne Dunn, Crystal Lake IL -- 32528. Chris Benson, Le Roy IL -- 32229. Irene Singleton, So. Bend IN -- 31130. Sasanka Ramanadham, St. Louis -- 29831. Joseph Chin, Highland IN -- 29532. Lee Hastings, St Louis MO -- 28933. Alan Popkin, St Louis MO -- 28234. Denny O'Connor, St. Louis -- 28135. Mike Giacaman, St. Louis -- 279
51. Jason Clevenger, St. Louis -- 24452. Richard Sullivan, Decatur IN -- 23553. Betty Capodice, Bloomington IL -- 23254. John Dicks, Saint Charles MO -- 22655. Stephen Brauss, St. Louis -- 22456. H Douglas Edwards, Hardin KY -- 22257. Mark Kessler, Springfield IL -- 22258. Daniel Simon, So. Bend IN -- 22259. Howard Schmid, Merrillville IN -- 22260. Marian Eggebrecht, So. Bend IN -- 22261. Donna Simon, So. Bend IN -- 22162. Donna Pedrotti, Maryland Hts MO -- 22163. Zach Freehill, Bloomington IL -- 22064. Christopher Shaw Jr., Carlinville IL -- 21865. Elaine Delaney, So. Bend IN -- 21766. James Hudson, DeKalb IL -- 21167. Linda Lubeck, Troy IL -- 21068. Larry Kolker, St. Louis -- 20569. Fran Russell, Paducah KY -- 20570. Richard Ellis Jr., Kokomo IN -- 20571. Karen Coe, Ewing IL -- 20172. Donald Florida, Marshall IL -- 19673. Doug Moore, Ballwin MO -- 19674. Kenneth Bland, St. Louis -- 19475. Jack Snyder, Rockford IL -- 19476. James Angell, Munster IN -- 19077. John Seng, Champaign IL -- 18878. Milton Zlatic, St. Louis -- 18879. Bob Bainter, St. Louis -- 18580. Ronald Sholes, Springfield IL -- 18481. Doug McQuaid, Lebanon IL -- 18382. Mike Tomlianovich, Bloomington IL -- 18383. Bobbie Holmes, St. Louis -- 18384. Suzi Shymanski Moore, Ballwin MO -- 18085. Ralph Rotter Jr., Granite City IL -- 180
36. John Chmielowiec, Michigan City IN -- 27337. Marvin Shapiro, St. Louis -- 27238. Ed Schultz, Chesterfield MO -- 27139. Dalton Darnell, Murray KY -- 26040. Audrey Danocup, Beloit WI 26041. Meyer Abarbanel, Belvidere IL -- 26042. Eric Gettleman, Normal IL -- 25843. Gail Moon, Bloomington IL -- 25744. Dean Duncan, Mishawaka IN -- 25245. Sheryl Finkenstadt, St Charles MO -- 25046. William Finkenstadt, St Charles MO -- 25047. Laurie Hamachek, Huntley IL -- 24748. Stephen Hawthorne, Bloomington IL -- 24649. Carol Mahoney, Kokomo IN -- 24550. Patricia Killeen, Mishawaka IN -- 244
86. Elizabeth Zalar, Springfield IL -- 17887. Bill Petrie, Mayfield KY -- 17788. Thomas Carpenter, Ft. Wayne IN -- 17789. Nancy La Master, Munster IN -- 17590. Virginia Peterson, Plymouth IN -- 17391. Julia Rambo, Mayfield KY -- 17392. Ronald Peterson, Plymouth IN -- 17293. Lena Howard, Elkhart IN -- 17294. Karen Walker, Champaign IL -- 17195. F. A. Binder Jr., So. Bend IN -- 17196. Byron Parshall, Mishawaka IN -- 17197. Paul Quayle, Gilbertsville KY -- 17098. Robin Lampley, Paducah KY -- 16799. Rosemary Zonker, Elkhart IN -- 165100. Sara Marcus, So. Bend IN -- 165
District-wide Mini-McKenney Race -- 2005
The annual Mini-McKenney race recognizes the leading masterpoint winners in each player-ranking category. Your category is based on the number of points you held at the beginning of 2005. Listed here are the top 15 point winners in each category in District 8 and the total masterpoints each player won during calendar year 2005. Congratulations to all!
Rookie of the Year (0-5 pts. on 1/1/2005) 1. Bill Lindemann Sr, Champaign IL -- -- 137 2. Paul Holmes, Champaign IL -- 135 3. Camilla Rabjohns, Peoria Heights IL -- 58 4. Karen Pickelsimer, Oakwood Hills IL -- 50 5. Robert Pickelsimer, Oakwood Hills IL -- 49 6. Debra Romero, Clarkson Valley MO -- 39 7. John Antognoli, Clayton MO -- 38 8. Patricia Valiska, Highland IN -- 37 9. Donald Valiska, Highland IN -- 3610. Roger James, Crown Point IN -- 3411. Dorothy James, Crown Point IN -- 3412. Frederick Shafer, South Bend IN -- 2913. Paul Silberman, Mishawaka IN -- 2514. Donna Cart, Rockford IL -- 2515. Steve Shoeffler, Edwardsville IL -- 25 Junior Master of the Year (5-20 pts.) 1. Ann Smith, Johnston City IL -- 87 2. Bob Pedrotti, Maryland Height MO -- 55 3. Paula Demlow, Sandwich IL -- 53 4. Beverly Dixson, Kirkwood MO -- 46 5. Bev Upp, Bloomington IL -- 41 6. Robert Adler, Creve Couer MO -- 41 7. William Demlow, Sandwich IL -- 38 8. Betty Hettinger, Aurora IL -- 35 9. Wesley Archer, Iberia MO -- 3410. Jorn Jamieson, Iberia MO -- 3411. Frank Hettinger, Aurora IL -- 3312. Dennis Moll, Bloomington IL -- 3313. Robert Dempsey, St Charles MO -- 3314. Marilyn Winter, Mt Zion IL -- 3015. Helene Siegfried, Chesterfield MO -- 30
Life Master of the Year (300 pts.) 1. Audrey Danocup, Beloit WI -- 260 2. Doug McQuaid, Lebanon IL -- 183 3. Nancy La Master, Munster IN -- 175 4. Paul Quayle, Gilbertsville KY -- 170 5. Frank La Master, Munster IN -- 147 6. Jane Baker, Paducah KY -- 143 7. Sylvia Kveton, Galena IL -- 138 8. Robert Cundall, Collinsville IL -- 135 9. Judy Putzel, St. Louis -- 13110. Gene Wheeler, Chatham IL -- 12711. Ben Englert, Edwardsville IL -- 12112. Larry Wilcox, Springfield IL -- 12013. Dariel Richardson, Rochester IL -- 11814. Patrick Moos, Peoria IL -- 10915. David Jenkins, Rockford IL -- 106 Bronze Life Master of the Year (500 pts.) 1. John Killeen, Mishawaka IN -- 381 2. Andrew Carver, Edwardsville IL -- 354 3. Sasanka Ramanadham, St. Louis -- 298 4. Sheryl Finkenstadt, St Charles MO -- 250 5. William Finkenstadt, St Charles MO -- 250 6. Norma Cloyd, Paducah KY -- 245 7. Patricia Killeen, Mishawaka IN -- 244 8. Jason Clevenger, St. Louis -- 244 9. James Hudson, DeKalb IL -- 21110. Phillip Stephan, Boynton Beach FL -- 19611. Virginia Peterson, Plymouth IN -- 17312. Ronald Peterson, Plymouth IN -- 17213. Lena Howard, Elkhart IN -- 17214. F. A. Binder Jr, South Bend IN -- 17115. John Coe, Ewing IL -- 165
Club Master of the Year (20-50 pts.) 1. Suzanne Gerhold, South Bend IN -- 85 2. James Gerhold, South Bend IN -- 85 3. Wayne Carpenter, Chesterton IN -- 85 4. Jay Shah, St. Louis -- 81 5. David Hoevel, Fort Wayne IN -- 78 6. Elizabeth Wilson, Urbana IL -- 70 7. Donald Groch, South Bend IN -- 67 8. Stevie Holcomb, Springfield IL -- 60 9. Thomas Esten Sr., Ft Wayne IN -- 5910. Judi Sulzbach, Champaign IL -- 5311. Fred Barilla, Rantoul IL -- 5112. Mary Ann Mitchell, Eureka MO -- 5113. Bernice Nesheim, Rockford IL -- 4414. Ladora Sloan, Mishawaka IN -- 4415. Sherman Tucker, St Charles MO -- 44 Sectional Master of the Year (50-100 pts.) 1. Bill Petrie, Mayfield KY -- 177 2. Cappy Gagnon, Notre Dame IN -- 165 3. Johnie Imes, Lake Ozark MO -- 143 4. Fred Roese, Springfield IL -- 114 5. Naomi Orsay, Brentwood MO -- 93 6. James Baumeister, Marion IL -- 90 7. William Bunn, Brentwood MO -- 84 8. Grady Thurman, Nashville TN 79 9. Laverne Niksch, Portage IN -- 7710. Cindy Wheeler, Chatham IL -- 7611. Gilda Singer, St Charles MO -- 7512. Linda Albrecht, Mt Zion IL -- 7313. Steve Singer, St Charles MO -- 7114. Roger Dieringer, Elgin IL -- 7015. Julia Torres, Florissant MO -- 68 Regional Master of the Year (100-200 pts.) 1. Eric Gettleman, Normal IL -- 258 2. Dan Faulkner, Monticello IL -- 125 3. Charlie Morton, Bloomington IL -- 117 4. Al Wagner II, Danville IL -- 117 5. Gary Dell, Champaign IL -- 116 6. Bill Lindemann Jr, Champaign IL -- 114 7. Jack Sanders, Champaign IL -- 114 8. Larry O'Maley, Fort Wayne IN -- 113 9. Bud Hawkins, Mt Vernon IL -- 110
Silver Life Master of the Year (1000 pts.) 1. Will Engel, Freeport IL -- 915 2. James Melville, Springfield IL -- 787 3. Ronda O'Farrell, Chesterfield MO -- 465 4. Sally Chapleau-Russo, Ft Pierce FL -- 340 5. Arbha Vongsvivut, Godfrey IL -- 326 6. Mike Giacaman, St. Louis -- 279 7. Meyer Abarbanel, Belvidere IL -- 260 8. Gail Moon, Bloomington IL -- 257 9. Jason Feldman, Champaign IL -- 25310. Richard Sullivan, Decatur IN -- 23511. Betty Capodice, Bloomington IL -- 23212. Stephen Brauss, St. Louis -- 22413. Daniel Simon, South Bend IN -- 22214. Marian Eggebrecht, South Bend IN -- 22215. Donna Simon, South Bend IN -- 221 Gold Life Master of the Year (2500 pts.) 1. John Kinst, Batavia IL -- 521 2. Sheldon Margulis, St. Louis -- 490 3. Ralph Behrens, St. Louis -- 446 4. Susan Perez, Maryland Hts MO -- 345 5. James Feinstein, South Bend IN -- 336 6. Irene Singleton, South Bend IN -- 311 7. Joseph Chin, Highland IN -- 295 8. Lee Hastings, St Louis -- 289 9. Alan Popkin, St Louis -- 28210. Denny O'Connor, St. Louis -- 28111. John Chmielowiec, Mich. City IN -- 27312. Marvin Shapiro, St. Louis -- 27213. Dalton Darnell, Murray KY -- 26014. Carol Mahoney, Kokomo IN -- 24515. John Dicks, Saint Charles MO -- 226 Diamond Life Master of the Year (5000 pts.) 1. Rod Van Wyk, Alton IL -- 483 2. Ed Weiss, Chesterfield MO -- 443 3. Tom Kniest, University City MO -- 377 4. Jacqueline Sincoff, St. Louis -- 361 5. Nancy Popkin, St. Louis -- 348 6. John Aumiller, Fort Wayne IN -- 334 7. Joshua Stark, Grayslake IL -- 327 8. Ed Schultz, Chesterfield MO -- 271
10. Ruth Minish, Granger IN -- 10711. Randall Motchan, Bloomington IL -- 9612. Richard Gierat, Belvidere IL -- 9613. Chuck Briggs, Hobart IN -- 9514. Robert Riggs, St. Louis -- 9515. Marsha Kent, Springfield IL -- 93 NABC Master of the Year (200 - non-LM) 1. Laurie Hamachek, Huntley IL -- 247 2. Stephen Hawthorne, Bloomington IL -- 246 3. Zach Freehill, Bloomington IL -- 220 4. Thomas Carpenter, Fort Wayne IN -- 177 5. Cal Corbin, Champaign IL -- 145 6. Mrs. L. A. Jenkins, Rockford IL -- 131 7. Ann Ruwitch, St. Louis -- 117 8. Gayle McLean, Bonita Springs FL -- 112 9. Claire Krukenberg, Charleston IL -- 11010. Norman Goldman, Wildwood MO -- 10211. Barbara Walczak, Munster IN -- 10112. David Short, Champaign IL -- 10013. Gary Schechter, Springfield IL -- 9914. Tim Butterbaugh, Paducah KY -- 9615. Frank Tirsch, Springfield IL -- 96
9. Mark Kessler, Springfield IL -- 22210. Milton Zlatic, St. Louis -- 18811. Karen Walker, Champaign IL -- 17112. David Bish, Leo IN -- 15613. James Hammond, Kirkwood MO -- 13614. James Davis, Kokomo IN -- 12615. Eunice Portnoy, St. Louis -- 115 Emerald Life Master of the Year (7500 pts.) 1. Bob Carteaux, Fort Wayne IN -- 859 2. Roger Lord, St. Louis -- 374 3. Gary Kessler, Springfield IL -- 373 4. Tom Oppenheimer, Ballwin MO -- 332 5. Suzanne Dunn, Crystal Lake IL -- 325 6. Chris Benson, Le Roy IL -- 322 7. Dean Duncan, Mishawaka IN -- 252 8. Larry Kolker, St. Louis -- 205
Platinum Life Master of the Year (10,000 pts.) 1. Colby Vernay, Lacon IL -- 959 2. Jack Bryant, St. Louis -- 468 3. Dick Benson, Le Roy IL -- 466
District-wide Ace of Clubs Race -- 2005
The annual Ace of Clubs awards recognize the leading masterpoint winners IN club-level games. Awards are made IN each player category. Your category is based on your total masterpoint holding at the begINning of 2005.
Listed here are the top point winners IN each category IN District 8 and the total masterpoints each player won IN club games during calendar year 2005. Congratulations to these active and successful players, and thanks from all of us for your support of local bridge.
Rookie of the Year (0-5 pts. on 1/1/2005) 1. Paul Holmes, Champaign IL -- 39 2. Bill Lindemann Sr., Champaign IL -- 38 3. Camilla Rabjohns, Peoria Heights IL -- 35 4. Roger James, Crown Point IN -- 30 5. Dorothy James, Crown Point IN -- 30 6. Patricia Valiska, Highland IN 30 7. John Antognoli, Clayton MO -- 29 8. Donald Valiska, Highland IN -- 28 9. Donna Cart, Rockford IL -- 2410. Steve Shoeffler, Edwardsville IL -- 2411. Ben Van Bentveld, Ballwin MO -- 2112. Paul Silberman, Mishawaka IN -- 1913. John Baird, Sandwich IL -- 1914. Daniel Bunde, Champaign IL -- 1715. Debra Romero, Clarkson Valley MO -- 17 Junior Master of the Year (5-20 pts.) 1. Paula Demlow, Sandwich IL -- 35 2. Robert Adler, Creve Couer MO -- 32 3. Bev Upp, Bloomington IL -- 25 4. Marilyn Winter, Mt Zion IL -- 24 5. Sara Ratterree, Springfield IL -- 23 6. Dennis Moll, Bloomington IL -- 22 7. Bob Pedrotti, Md. Heights MO -- 21 8. William Demlow, Sandwich IL -- 21 9. David Wilson, Davis IL -- 2010. Carol Costello, Springfield IL -- 2011. Sam Sgro, Springfield IL -- 1912. Alfred Pranske, Springfield IL -- 1913. Nancy Wilson, Davis IL -- 1914. Beverly Dixson, Kirkwood MO -- 1815. Larry Seitzman, Peoria IL -- 17
Life Master of the Year (300 pts.) 1. Jane Baker, Paducah KY -- 85 2. Sylvia Kveton, Galena IL -- 84 3. Gene Wheeler, Chatham IL -- 82 4. Ruth Wettaw, Bloomington IL -- 73 5. Audrey Danocup, Beloit WI -- 68 6. Richard Scheibelhut, Oro Val. AZ -- 65 7. Judy Putzel, St. Louis -- 65 8. Nancy La Master, Munster IN -- 62 9. Dariel Richardson, Rochester IL -- 5710. Larry Wilcox, Springfield IL -- 5611. Loren Van Degraft, Byron IL -- 4612. Frank La Master, Munster IN -- 4413. Patrick Moos, Peoria IL -- 4314. Sarah Ann Mueller, So. Bend IN -- 4315. Deborah King, Creve Coeur MO -- 40 Bronze Life Master of the Year (500 pts.) 1. John Killeen, Mishawaka IN -- 228 2. Phillip Stephan, Boynton Bch FL -- 145 3. Patricia Killeen, Mishawaka IN -- 130 4. Lena Howard, Elkhart IN -- 115 5. George Veenstra, Springfield IL -- 114 6. F. A. Binder Jr., So. Bend IN -- 112 7. Samy Sawaya, Munster IN -- 105 8. Robert Adams, So. Bend IN -- 99 9. JoAnn Steigmeyer, Granger IN -- 9610. F. R. Kellstrom, Chesterton IN -- 9611. Sheryl Finkenstadt, St. Charles MO -- 9312. William Finkenstadt, St. Charles MO -- 9313. J. S. Bruner, Springfield IL -- 9014. Margaret Hansell, Champaign IL -- 8515. Percy Wu, Chesterfield MO -- 82
Club Master of the Year (20-50 pts.) 1. David Hoevel, Ft. Wayne IN -- 63 2. Wayne Carpenter, Chesterton IN -- 48 3. Thomas Esten Sr., Ft Wayne IN -- 46 4. Elizabeth Wilson, Urbana IL -- 45 5. Donald Groch, So. Bend IN -- 44 6. Stevie Holcomb, Springfield IL -- 42 7. Ladora Sloan, Mishawaka IN -- 42 8. Suzanne Gerhold, So. Bend IN -- 40 9. James Gerhold, So. Bend IN -- 3910. Bishnu Dutta, Rockford IL -- 3611. Judi Sulzbach, Champaign IL -- 3512. Ronald Sicks, Ft. Wayne IN -- 3513. Cheryl Bosak, St Charles IL -- 3414. Bernice Nesheim, Rockford IL -- 3415. Jay Shah, St Louis MO -- 33 Sectional Master of the Year (50-100 pts.) 1. Cappy Gagnon, Notre Dame IN -- 110 2. Bill Petrie, Mayfield KY -- 106 3. Fred Roese, Springfield IL -- 66 4. Roger Dieringer, Elgin IL -- 56 5. Beckham Southern, Kennett MO -- 48 6. Douglas St John, Rockford IL -- 47 7. Cindy Wheeler, Chatham IL -- 46 8. Susan Donnelly, Springfield IL -- 43 9. Laverne Niksch, Portage IN -- 4110. Jane Auby, Springfield IL -- 3711. Hazel Petrick, Munster IN -- 3612. Jeff Luber, Granger IN -- 3613. Dorothy Helmeczi, Ft. Wayne IN -- 3514. Alan Avery, Springfield IL -- 3515. Nancy Sleeth, St. Charles IL -- 35 Regional Master of the Year (100-200 pts.) 1. Jack Sanders, Champaign IL -- 84 2. Eric Gettleman, Normal IL -- 78 3. Chuck Briggs, Hobart IN -- 66 4. Al Wagner II, Danville IL -- 66 5. Joseph Franz III, Springfield IL -- 64 6. Layton Lamb, Springfield IL -- 64 7. Douglas Jonquet, Decatur IL -- 63 8. Marsha Kent, Springfield IL -- 61
Silver Life Master of the Year (1000 pts.) 1. Richard Sullivan, Decatur IN -- 178 2. Marian Eggebrecht, So. Bend IN -- 166 3. Arbha Vongsvivut, Godfrey IL -- 152 4. James Angell, Munster IN -- 134 5. Sally Chapleau-Russo, Ft Pierce FL -- 132 6. Elaine Delaney, So. Bend IN -- 130 7. Mike Giacaman, St. Louis -- 128 8. Sara Marcus, So. Bend IN -- 123 9. Virginia Stipp, So. Bend IN -- 11910. Richard Schnepp, Springfield IL -- 11511. Janice Franz, Springfield IL -- 11212. Byron Parshall, Mishawaka IN -- 11113. James O'Connell, Valparaiso IN -- 11114. Gail Moon, Bloomington IL -- 10815. Betty Capodice, Bloomington IL -- 108 Gold Life Master of the Year (2500 pts.) 1. Irene Singleton, So. Bend IN -- 232 2. James Feinstein, So. Bend IN -- 222 3. Ralph Behrens, St. Louis -- 157 4. Rosemary Zonker, Elkhart IN -- 140 5. Bobbie Holmes, St. Louis -- 137 6. John Chmielowiec, Mich. City IN -- 133 7. Denny O'Connor, St. Louis -- 131 8. Howard Schmid, Merrillville IN -- 120 9. Joseph Chin, Highland IN -- 11510. Sheldon Margulis, St. Louis -- 11511. John Kinst, Batavia IL -- 11112. Donna Pedrotti, Md. Hts. MO -- 10813. Julia Rambo, Mayfield KY -- 10614. Mrs. L. Greenman, St. Louis -- 9715. Marie Goldner, So. Bend IN -- 96 Diamonnd Life Master of the Year (5000 pts.) 1. John Aumiller, Ft. Wayne IN -- 209 2. Rod Van Wyk, Alton IL -- 160 3. James Hammond, Kirkwood MO -- 86 4. David Bish, Leo IN -- 72 5. Jacqueline Sincoff, St. Louis -- 59 6. James Davis, Kokomo -- IN 50 7. Ed Weiss, Chesterfield MO -- 46 8. Ed Schultz, Chesterfield MO -- 35
9. Larry O'Maley, Ft. Wayne IN -- 5910. Constance Stevens, Highland IN -- 5811. Jack Kessler, Bloomington IL -- 5712. Richard Gierat, Belvidere IL -- 5513. Ms. M. N. Schumm, Munster IN -- 5414. Ruth Minish, Granger IN -- 5215. Martha Hosinski, So. Bend IN -- 50 NABC Master of the Year (200 - non-LM) 1. Zach Freehill, Bloomington IL -- 110 2. Stephen Hawthorne, Bloomington IL -- 100 3. Thomas Carpenter, Ft. Wayne IN -- 94 4. Gary Schechter, Springfield IL -- 86 5. Cal Corbin, Champaign IL -- 75 6. Laurie Hamachek, Huntley IL -- 65 7. Robert Brightup, Rockford IL -- 64 8. Frank Tirsch, Springfield IL -- 63 9. Barbara Walczak, Munster IN -- 6210. Stanley Gutzman, Normal IL -- 5911. Ann Ruwitch, St. Louis -- 5712. David Short, Champaign IL -- 5113. Jean Barnett, Bloomington IL -- 5014. Gayle McLean, Bonita Springs FL -- 4915. Joseph McAdam, Decatur IL -- 49
9. Robert Giles, Marion IL -- 3410. Eunice Portnoy, Boca Raton FL -- 3311. Milton Zlatic, St. Louis -- 3212. Dan Requard, Springfield IL -- 2913. Karen Walker, Champaign IL -- 2214. Nancy Popkin, St. Louis -- 1715. Joshua Stark, Grayslake IL -- 10
Emerald Life Master of the Year (10,000 pts.) 1. Dean Duncan, Mishawaka IN -- 206 2. Tom Oppenheimer, Ballwin MO -- 53 3. Suzanne Dunn, Crystal Lake IL -- 35 4. Roger Lord, St. Louis -- 32 5. Gary Kessler, Springfield IL -- 31 6. Larry Kolker, St. Louis -- 30 7. Bob Carteaux, Ft. Wayne IN -- 8Platinum Life Master of the Year (7500 pts.) 1. Jack Bryant, St. Louis -- 132 2. Dick Benson, Le Roy IL -- 18 3. Colby Vernay, Lacon IL -- 10
Other Masterpoint Races -- 2005
Each year, ACBL recognizes the bridge successes of Junior players (age 25 and under) and players who win the most points in sectional tournaments. Listed below are the District-wide rankings and points won in 2005 by our players in these categories.
Junior Leaders 1. Will Engel, Freeport IL -- 915 2. Andrew Carver, Edwardsville IL -- 354 3. Paul Holmes, Champaign IL -- 135 4. Ben Englert, Edwardsville IL -- 121 5. Joshua Kueker, Champaign IL -- 51 6. Wilbert Law, Urbana IL -- 19 7. Michael Noll, St. Louis -- 14 8. Matthew Robb, St. Louis -- 12 9. Thomas O'Reilly-Pol, St. Louis -- 1010. Praveen Jayachandran, Champaign IL -- 811. Yui Hei Au, Urbana IL -- 812. John Kalbfleisch, St. Louis -- 513. Drew Cuthbertson, Quincy IL -- 114. Nat Seiz, Springfield IL -- 115. Anne Kramer, Springfield IL -- 116. Matthew McCrea, St John IN -- 1
Sectional Point Winners 1. Ronda O'Farrell, Chesterfield MO -- 396 2. Ed Weiss, Chesterfield MO -- 395 3. Nancy Popkin, St. Louis -- 178 4. Will Engel, Freeport IL -- 156 5. Ralph Behrens, St. Louis -- 145 6. Tom Oppenheimer, Ballwin MO -- 137 7. Alan Popkin, St. Louis -- 130 8. John Kinst, Batavia IL -- 125 9. Susan Perez, Maryland Hts MO -- 12210. Don Florida, Marshall IL -- 11711. Rod Van Wyk, Alton IL -- 11512. Richard Ellis, Kokomo IN -- 10613. Jack Bryant, St. Louis -- 9414. Peggy Wald, Chesterfield MO -- 9415. Dalton Darnell, Murray KY -- 9216. Jason Clevenger, St. Louis -- 8917. Sheldon Margulis, St. Louis -- 8718. Andrew Carver, Edwardsville IL -- 8419. Douglas Edwards, Hardin KY -- 8220. John Chmielowiec, Michigan City IN -- 8021. Larry Kolker, St. Louis -- 8022. Carol Mahoney, Kokomo IN -- 7923. Sasanka Ramanadham, St. Louis -- 7924. Joseph Chin, Highland IN -- 7425. Joshua Stark, Grayslake IL -- 71
Director, pleaseby David Stevenson, Liverpool, England
Question (from the U.S.): As an ACBL member, I would like to go "out of tempo" in certain types of situations. Here's the first: I open 1NT and partner invites with 2NT. Now if I pass quickly, the opponents will know I have 15 points. If I briskly bid game, I'm marked with 17 points, and if I sit and stew, no matter what I do subsequently, everyone knows I have 16. I would like, instead, to be able to study my hand for about 10 seconds (as after a skip bid warning) and then act, even in situations where I have no problem with my decision. Is such an action permitted here in the USA? Anyplace? And is there a specific law involved?
Stevenson: You are not allowed to mislead opponents through tempo. If you sit and appear to think, they have a right to believe you have a decision. Law 73E permits you to make all calls in the same tempo, so if you think 10 seconds before every call, that is legal, but now you are delaying the game.
To be honest, I really think you should try for a different approach. Thinking forever will not really tell you to bid game or not with 16. Just bid immediately and do not worry about it. Your game will not be worse, and you will have given less information away.
Follow-up question: Here's a play situation where I would like more freedom to vary my tempo. Say declarer leads up to dummy's AQJx or KQxx and I am fourth to play to the trick. If I can and want to win the trick, must I do so immediately? I would like to be able to study the situation (sorry, as I age, I do get a bit slower) to determine whether I should duck or win the trick and which suit and card I should return if I do win. Certainly there is information about if I win the trick and then study.
Now consider this similar situation, where I think I'm on less firm ground. The same suit combination as above, but this time I do not hold a winner. Instead, I want to take time to determine whether I should signal count or not. We both know that astute declarers, holding the King or Ace in hand, will make such a play only to get the defenders to give count signals. So I believe I have a legitimate problem as to whether to give a true or a false signal, depending on my appraisal of the situation. Yes, in the old days, I might have been prepared for the play and planned ahead. But if the mind slows down? Or the play comes up so early and that my preparation is not complete?
I do know that certain signaling methods are not permitted, precisely because of the tempo breaks that can ensue. Here, though, I'm talking about bread-and-butter signals, not something like "Oh my gawd, I have no odd pips, so which even card do I follow suit with?".
Stevenson: Same sort of thing. No, you may not mislead opponents, and there is case law to say that considering whether or not to give count is not acceptable as a reason for an apparently misleading pause.
There again, I suggest a change in your approach. If your partner watches your signals, give count
always, or possibly not in situations you yourself know so you can decide immediately.
Follow-up question: Are there any conditions where I am allowed to take time to think with cards that do not technically warrant a slow decision? What if I warn my opponents in advance that my style is to pause and study at odd times, and that they should therefore take no inferences from any of my tempo breaks?
Stevenson: Some players believe that saying in advance their tempo means nothing absolves them from the Laws of bridge. Not so. The Laws give you a right to bid and play in an even tempo so as to give no information to the other side, but they instruct you to be very careful in tempo-sensitive situations.
Suppose you lead towards the KJxx in dummy in a suit contract. Your LHO thinks for a time, then plays low. You now play the king, expecting the ace to be on your left, and it is not. In this case, you will get redress because your opponent has not been careful to avoid misleading you in a tempo-sensitive situation, which is illegal.
It is no excuse to make a general warning in advance that he does not follow the rules. He has no right not to follow the rules. It is also no excuse whatever for him to say he was wondering whether to echo or not. He knows that his hesitation might mislead, and that makes the hesitation illegal.
Suppose he thinks accidentally, then realizes he may have misled his opponent? Then he should say so -- something like, "I was not thinking about this trick" or "Nothing to think about". Now declarer is not misled and it is no longer illegal.
Do you have questions about bridge laws, a ruling you received (or made) at a tournament or club game, how to handle an ethical dilemma? David, who is very knowledgeable on North American bridge, will explain laws and proprieties, share opinions on specific cases and offer advice on any aspect of game direction. You can submit questions on his web form or by email to [email protected] . In your message, include a note that you're an Advocate reader from the U.S.
David maintains an archive of articles on laws and proprieties on his web site: http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/lws_menu.htm
Winter Sectional at Clubs
District 8's annual Winter Sectional Tournament at Clubs was held the week of February 3-9 at local clubs. Overall winners in all flights at each session, plus side-game winners, are listed on the District 8 STAC homepage.
A list of all players who won masterpoints during STAC week is here. The top 25 point-winners in the District and their totals from all STAC games were:
1 34.98 Richard Sullivan, Decatur IN
2 26.28 Jack Bryant, St. Louis
3 22.64 Elaine Delaney, South Bend IN
4 21.65 Eric Gettleman, Normal IL
5 20.32 Thomas Carpenter, Fort Wayne IN
6 20.06 Larry Lemon, Mayfield KY
7 20.06 Sandra Lemon, Mayfield KY
8 19.30 Gary Kessler, Springfield IL
9 18.79 Dalton Darnell, Murray KY
10 17.94 Doug Edwards, Hardin KY
11 17.87 Martha Stutz, Springfield IL
12 17.79 Frank Yoder III, Goshen IN
13 17.38 William Finkenstadt, St Charles MO
14 17.38 Sheryl Finkenstadt, St Charles MO
15 16.76 Robin Lampley, Paducah KY
16 16.76 Bruce Gardner, Paducah KY
17 16.02 Jacque Sincoff, St. Louis
18 15.62 Teen Robertson, Mishawaka IN
19 15.44 Jan Condon, Rockford IL
20 14.15 Gerald Schneider, Chesterfield MO
21 14.12 Virginia Stipp, South Bend IN
22 14.06 Suzi Shymanski Moore, Ballwin MO
23 14.06 Doug Jonquet, Decatur IL
24 14.02 Gene Condon, Rockford IL
25 13.00 Larry Thompson, West Paducah KY
District 8 Solvers Forum -- April 2006
by Scott Merritt, Abuja, Nigeria
Greetings from sunny and hot Abuja, Nigeria. Currently, it is just over 100 degrees, and we are in the midst of the Harmatan, which is basically a three-month dust storm caused by lack of rain and wind blowing south from the Sahara desert. I have brought my first-born son, little Rory Lucas Merritt, to this garden oasis. So maybe there is more going for it than the weather.
1. Matchpoints, none vulnerable
Action Score Votes % Solvers
2C 100 7 13
2H 80 6 36
Pass 60 1 23
DBL 60 2 27
1NT 40 0 2
West North East South
1D DBL 1S ???
What is your call as South holding: J2 9864 543 KQ95 ?
Matchpoints is a game where the goal is to make the bid that’s most likely to score the most points. This problem gets to the heart of this statement. Bidding hearts has the possibility of being very wrong, but it also is your most likely plus score. Bidding the very leadable club suit can never lose the post mortem. Unfortunately, you are bidding the unboss suit, and partner has asked you to bid a major and you passed up on the chance. The panel will set me straight:
WALKER : "2C. If LHO raises to 2S, I've at least gotten partner off to the best lead. If LHO rebids 2D (what I'm expecting), I can continue stretching these values with a 2H bid.”
WILLIAMS : "2C. I have a "bad good" hand and I want clubs led. I have a clear preference for clubs over hearts. Pass is weak as you have some values. 2H misdiscribes your hand.”
KESSLER: “2C. I bid what I want partner to lead. If partner cannot bid again, it is not our hand, and if he does we can still find hearts. Blowing tricks on opening leads at matchpoints will guarantee low scores.”
KNIEST: “2C. There's a good chance that we'll defend, and I certainly want the club lead as opposed to a heart. If lefty bids 2D and I'm in pass out, I bid 2H. You have values, and must bid.”
This seems like too much talent to go against the grain on this one. None of these players seem to have a problem with showing the heart suit on the second go-around, if they get the chance. With some people willing to bid twice, I had to downgrade passing further than I usually would. This is clearly a bidders’ game, and this may even be our hand. Or at least that is what the heart bidders are banking on.
DODD: “2H. Just enough values for a 'free' bid. Where's the problem?”
TAFJORD: “2H. Double would be penalty, and I have both unbid suits, so I try 2H.”
STRITE: “2H. Clear decision to bid on this minimum, not vulnerable at matchpoints. It’s also clear to bid a major, despite suit quality.”
I am also a 2H bidder, but these panelists and their answers seem to be the-dog-ate-my-homework excuses. I am disappointed. I was unsure what to do with those who chose to double, as Bridge World Standard seems to define this as a penalty double. Takeout or responsive seems like a handy treatment -- if you want to show a good hand, cuebid the takeout-doubled suit (diamonds), and if you want to show spades, bid spades (duh).
2. Matchpoints, none vulnerable
Action Score Votes % Solvers
Pass 100 7 53
4H 80 7 20
3NT 60 2 25
3S 50 0 2
West North East South
-- 1H 2C Pass
2S 3H Pass ???
What is your call as South holding: K42 102 K753 Q1064 ?
This is a tough problem. The panel voted resoundingly for playing in hearts, but was evenly divided on whether to pass or go on to game. The Solvers' strong vote for the Pass was the tiebreaker.
There is a much maligned convention called the Good-Bad 2NT. There is also a world of knowledge out there on this thing called “The Internet”. Unfortunately, I am living in country where the power grid and phone grid often make accessing these impossible, as is now the case. But if I were able to speak with the rest of the known universe, I would be able to check the Bridge World Standard website once again, and find out if they play a variant of this convention.
The Good-Bad 2NT convention, which may or may not apply here, offers the possibility that partner could have bid a forcing and artificial 2NT to begin the description of a hand with long hearts and game interest. With that available to show a good hand, a mere repeat of his suit, as in the actual auction, would show a “just competing, partner; don’t get excited” hand.
That agreement would clear up this problem considerably. Partner may have a hand along the lines of x KQ109xxx AJx xx where he is semi-bluffing. On the other hand, he may have a hand
where your smattering of fillers makes game virtually lay down: Jxx AKQxxx AJxx Void . Can the panel make a more succinct case than that?
MILLER: “4H. Comes down to trusting partner or trusting the opponents.”
WILLIAMS : “4H. Partner did bid 3H by his lonesome? I have 2 trumps and the K of diamonds rates
to be a good card. I like the club length behind the club bidder.”
BEYE: “4H. Two options: 3NT or 4H. At the table I think I'd bid 3NT. But, the more I thought on this hand, the more I thought that 3NT had no chance on this auction.”
JONQUET: “4H. Even if pard is stretching ‘a little’, there should be a play. My partners soon learn not to bid my cards for me except in balancing seat.“
I love the threatening tone of the last comment. And while I believe that partners sometimes take just a bit too much liberty in bidding my cards, this is still a hand full of garbage for partner. What will he do with all of these cards that surely look nice to us, but can’t cover his losers?
Only one panelist tried the notrump game:
FEILER: "3NT. I think this actually shows this kind of hand -- i.e., a hand where I passed planning to defend 2C doubled."
STRITE: “Pass. Good-Bad 2NT anyone? Without that tool, I'll guess to go quietly. I don't like my chances for fast tricks in 3NT, and my black honors may be of little use in hearts.”
FELDHEIM: “Pass. Partner didn't double so it sounds like a lot of shape. The spade king is poorly placed and 3NT might be very ugly with a club lead and a spade switch.”
KESSLER: “Pass. I would bid at IMP's, but at matchpoints, go for the plus. Partner could have doubled and then competed to 3H with a really good hand. Let's not hang partner.”
I like the comments from those who scored all of the points. As they point out, partner did have other ways to get to 3H and show a desire for more. I think that we must pass now, and then take action next time if the auction isn’t yet finished.
3. Matchpoints, NS vulnerable
Action Score Votes % Solvers
3C 100 11 41
Pass 80 3 34
2S 80 1 2
3D 60 0 2
3H 60 1 17
4H 50 0 5
West North East South
-- -- -- Pass
Pass 1H Pass 2D *
Pass 2H ** Pass ???
* Drury -- 4 trumps, 10+ support pts.** Minimum or sub-minimum opener
What is your call as South holding: Q43 A654 5 KJ963 ?
I think this hand is rather straightforward. First, should you bid? I think it’s pretty clear you should. Second, how should you advance? This is less clear, but also seems less important to me. If you play short-suit game tries, then 3D is clearly the proper advance. If you play help-suit game tries very
strictly, 2S is the call. If you just look at your hand, 3C seems to be correct. The panel was fairly unexcited by these possibilities, especially the passers, who are represented by:
MATHENY: " Pass. Take a plus score at matchpoints. Worth a 3C try at IMPs. "
Most other panelists thought it was worth a try at matchpoints, too.
TAFJORD: “3C. There are good chances for game here, so I want to make a game try and 3C seems the most natural.”
DODD: “3C. One more try seems worth the risk, although if I were North here I'd say the best call is pass and pray for down only one.”
STRITE: “3C. An agreement is useful here. Since a move implies distribution, our system should have a way to show the stiff diamond. Anyway, the three level should be safe, especially at MP's, so I'll show partner where my tricks are.”
KESSLER: “3C. Certainly, even at matchpoints, this hand is worth a game try. Very close to an opening bid!”
WALKER : “3C. Partner could have a ‘real’ but minimum opener here, so I think this hand is worth a second game try. If he retreats to 3H (or bids 3D as his own second game try), I'll stop in the partscore.”
Sure, blah, blah, blah. I think this next comment is the most interesting of all:
KNIEST: “3C. I know I may have defeated the purpose of Drury by bidding, but this hand qualified for a fit-showing passed-hand jump shift, and I accidentally pulled out the 2D card.”
The fit-showing jump of 3C would have been a superior call for your first response. It shows everything – game-going values with heart support and a club suit as a possible source of tricks.
4. Matchpoints, EW vulnerable
Action Score Votes % Solvers
5H 100 6 30
6H 80 2 30
7H 70 5 17
Pass 70 1 16
4NT 60 1 5
DBL 60 1 3
West North East South
-- 2H 4S ???
What is your call as South holding: 5 1098654 Q3 J832 ?
Let’s play some poker. We have lots and lots of hearts and vulnerability that is egging us on. The bizarre thing about this hand, though, is that I don’t think that the maximum-pressure bid -- 7H -- is the best way to really achieve maximum pressure.
KNIEST: “7H. They have a sure vulnerable small slam if not a grand. Lefty will pass, showing interest
in 7S and RHO, with his void, will figure a duplication of values and double . . . I hope.”
FELDHEIM: “7H. No doubt a minority bid, but since I'm not defending 6S, let's put the question early and make 'em guess.”
KESSLER: “7H. There is no lock the opponents can make 7S. Partner could have Jxx of diamonds or Qx of clubs. Certainly they should make 6S and our save should be less than 1430.”
BEYE: “7H. Hope they miss slam or hope to push them to an unmakeable position? How high now? How high later? Terrible problem. At the table, I think I’m bidding 7H. I may as well do it here too.”
TAFJORD: “7H. They should be cold for 6S and probably 7S, so I'll try to keep them out of it. Partner has at least KQJxxx of hearts, so cannot have much outside. Down 6 is only -1400. Possibly 6H will make them stop at 6S when they're cold for 7S, but I'll take my chances with 7H.”
After seeing these comments, there is nothing that argues for bidding all the way right now. Usually, maximum pressure denies space to the opponents and forces them to guess. On the other hand, 6H seems to me like a transfer to 6S.
DODD: “6H. Best bid to talk them out of a grand. I’m tempted (for about 0.444 seconds) to bid 7H just in case North has minor-suit holdings that doom an East-West grand. Any cute bids here (4NT or a minor suit) deserve zeroes.”
JONQUET: “6H. Very cool problem! They have the master suit and somewhere between 12 and 26 tricks. (A) I can't let them Blackwood. (B) I can't let them cuebid our suit. (C) I can't stop them if they have a grand. (D) I must warn pard not to double, even 7S. (E) I might get them to stop in 6 when 7 is laydown. (F) Don't push them to 7.”
These two panelists opted for more subtle tactics:
FEILER: "Pass. When opponents are in game, sometimes they have trouble going forward. A big jump in hearts or a psych might help them."
MATHENY: "Double. The classic stripe-tailed ape double, as I know what to do if they redouble. Minus 1390 is better than minus 1460."
I'm actually surprised that only one panelist chose the penalty double. We read about these psychic doubles all the time, and when we finally get a chance to try it out, we all go and raise partner's suit!
WALKER : “5H. There's a good argument for passing, since any further preempt will surely stampede them into a contract you don't want to defend. 6H is a transfer to 6S, and 7H gives them a two-way shot at you -- if LHO thinks he has the right hand for 7S, he probably does, and 7H goads him into bidding it. 5H is a compromise that at least impedes their ability to locate all the controls, and keeps open the chance that they won't find their slam.”
STRITE: “5H. Feels right. I don't want them to bid 6S, so why bid 6H immediately? Depending on the sound of the auction from here on in, my next call may be 7H.”
WILLIAMS : “5H. I’m avoiding the knee-jerk response of 6H over 4S for fear of pushing them into a cold slam. Passing, which there is a good case for, gives them an easy cuebid or Blackwood bid. 4NT is simply silly; they can cuebid at the 5 level and perhaps double to ask for aces/keycards.”
I think these three comments really cover all the bases, but I am just a silly commentator. In the end, without the boss suit, I expect lefty to finish the auction with panache, and my choice here may not matter at all.
5. IMPs, NS vulnerable
Action Score Votes % Solvers
Pass 100 6 63
5H 80 4 9
4S 60 3 22
6H 60 1 3
4NT 60 0 2
5S 50 2 0
5D 40 0 2
West North East South
-- -- -- 2S
Pass 3D Pass 3S
Pass 4H Pass ???
What is your call as South holding: AK10974 Q92 86 52 ?
This is the kind of hand that keeps me playing bridge year in and year out. On Day One of learning to bid a bridge hand, you are trained that there are forcing and non-forcing bids. It seems like a simple rule that should be done and dusted after a few weeks of serious play. And then you have played for ten years and you run into this hand. There is a guideline that states, when in doubt about the meaning of an undiscussed bid, play it as forcing. On the other hand, could you blame partner for bidding like this with x KJxxx AQJxxx x ? On a bad day, you’re down in 4H. I believe 4H must be forcing, but the panel doesn’t see it that way:
TAFJORD: “Pass. It sounds like partner might be 6-5 in diamonds and hearts, and my hand might not be all that useful, so I'll stop in 4H.”
FELDHEIM: “Pass. Good heavens, I've never passed this often. Yes I like my heart queen, but my spades may be duplicated opposite shortness. If partner is 6-6 solid, ah well.”
KNIEST: “Pass. Let's say pard had opened 1D and we had responded 1S; then he reversed and rebid hearts. Would we do more than raise to game without a club control? I think we're in much the same position here.”
WALKER : “Pass. Sounds like partner is at least 6-5, probably with a spade void, and I don't want to hang him for getting us to the right strain. The queen of hearts is a good card for him, but not enough to make slam a good bet.”
BEYE: “Pass. Gawd, not an IMP problem like this one. Last makeable contract or forcing and forward going? I think we have other tools that would have confirmed spades.”
STRITE: “Pass. My spade suit may be of little use, and my red suits are not exceptional in context. A comfortable pass, though we may miss slam if the red suits are breaking.”
I’m picking up what they are all putting down, but we announced that we really only like spades, yet we are a super max with Qxx of partner’s suit and two quick tricks in ours. How many weak twos like that have you ever opened? QJ10xxx xx x K10xxx is what I usually have. I hate to bid, but I just feel I must. Who needs a plus score when you have the powers of right and good on your side?
JONQUET: "5S. Not sure where we're going, but I think 4H is forcing (too many possibilities to list in this format). I have heart support and a maximum, but two losing clubs. By the way, I would not have opened 2S with this hand because of the heart support.”
WILLIAMS : “5H. If partner had spades, he could have bid 2NT over 2S. That having been said, partner should be 6-5 with some juice. I have something for pard and would pass 4H with much less."
PAULO: "5H. If partner has a good 6-5 -- e.g., x AKxxx AKxxxx x -- I have the best heart support I can in this context. If partner has a spade fit and is looking for a club control - e.g., Qxxx
Ax AKQxx xx -- my bid suggests lack of it."
The panel was fairly certain all partner's bids were natural, but as a few pointed out, it doesn't hurt to cover all your bases, just in case. There were no slam tries for this panelist:
FEILER. " 6H. I assume that 4H showed a strong 5-6 in the reds, but partner may have another idea. If it was some kind of cuebid, he can convert to 6S."
Probably the best explanation of the bunch comes from:
DODD: “5H. [no comment]
For my money, if slam is on, I surely think 5S is the best call. If slam isn’t on, I would never bid 5S. Tell me if I was right after the round.
6. Matchpoints, EW vulnerable
Action Score Votes % Solvers
3H 100 9 56
2NT 80 1 5
4H 70 4 13
2D 70 0 8
2C 70 2 6
2H 60 0 5
3NT 60 0 3
West North East South
-- 1H Pass 1S
Pass 1NT Pass ???
What is your call as South holding: KQ1053 Q54 A62 43 ?
What entertained me about this hand was the number of people who passed on the last hand, and then hung partner on this hand. Mssrs. BEYE, WALKER, FELDHEIM and KNIEST passed in case they were in the last makeable contract on Problem #5, and then throw matchpoints to the
3S 50 0 3
Pass 50 0 2
wind and blast into game on this hand. I’m sure their partners are the catchers in those partnerships!
I thought that this would be unanimous at matchpoints, except for the few people who never score well in these quizzes and who chose to try 2NT. I was wrong. But the blasters get no sympathy from me.
BEYE: “4H. I don't like my shape, but I still think 3H is too tough on partner. I bid what I think partner can make.”
KNIEST: “4H. We fit partner, the lead's coming up to him, and we're giving the opponents minimum info.”
WALKER : “4H. With all prime cards and the good outside source of tricks, this hand is worth a game bid. I have no reason to go searching for a 5-3 spade fit, especially since it looks best to have partner declare.”
FELDHEIM: “4H. This seems clear. I agree this may be a no-play special but this a seven- loser hand opposite an opening bid and anything less would be cowardly. An invitation (3H) would be inquisitional.”
I guess I’m up for an inquisition! If this hand isn’t a matchpoint invite, what hand is? First, to the guy who knew he wouldn’t get all of the points:
WILLIAMS : “2NT. I have an invitational hand and bid accordingly. Partner can bid 3S on the way if he is accepting.”
Way to stick to your guns and know the drop points.
PAULO: "3H. There is no point in checking back to find spade support, as I can raise the other major. Whatever partner holds in the minor suits, he should be declarer, not me."
JONQUET: “3H. Pard can pass with absolute minimum, show secondary spade support or bid game in any of three denominations. Whatever he does should be right.”
STRITE: “3H. Have you seen what people open these days?”
I think Mr. Strite hits the nail on the head. Partner is the only one who can see his hand. If he passes and then makes game, it surely wasn’t a percentage position. Other people could pull some sort of New-Minor-Forcing implications into this hand, but that will be content for another day.
You know we had a good set when no one had a perfect score! Cheers and goodbye for now from sunny Abuja.
Thanks to all who sent in answers this month, and congratulations to Hugh Metzger, Brandon Einhorn and Gary Dell, who topped all Solvers for this set. They're all invited to join the June
panel.
The six new problems for June are below. There's still time to join in the 2006 Solvers Contest, which is based on your best three scores for the year, so I hope you'll all give them a try. Please submit your solutions by May 20 on the web form or by email to our June moderator:
Hugh Metzger, South Bend IN 580 Alvan Bregman, Champaign IL 540
Brandon Einhorn, Millford NJ 560 Chick Fyffe, St. Louis MO 540
Gary Dell, Champaign IL 560 Jim Hudson, DeKalb IL 540
Greg Berry, Sleepy Hollow IL 550 Asher Axelrod, Jerusalem, Israel 530
Mike Halvorsen, Champaign IL 550 Nigel Guthrie, Reading UK 530
Robert Lambert, Warsaw IN 540 Phyllis Rahn, Dunlap IL 530
Solvers Forum -- June 2006 Problems
1. Matchpoints, none
vulnerable
West North East South
-- 1S DBL RDBL
2H Pass Pass ???
What is your call as South holding:K8 K93 KJ8754 Q10 ?
2. IMPs, NS vulnerable
West North East South
-- -- 4H ???
What is your call as South holding:AKQJ976 Void A5 AQ93 ?
3. IMPs, both vulnerable
West North East South
-- 1S Pass 1NT *
Pass 2H Pass ???
* Forcing 1NT (2-over-1 game force system)
What is your call as South holding:A K72 KJ7652 943 ?
4. IMPs, none vulnerable
West North East South
-- 3D Pass ???
What is your call as South holding:92 K765 AK42 K93?
5. Matchpoints, none
vulnerable
West North East South
-- 1C 1D 2D*
2H DBL Pass ???
* Limit-raise or better for clubs
What is your call as South holding:A4 3 AQJ2 A86432 ?
6. Matchpoints, NS
vulnerable
West North East South
-- 2NT * Pass 3C
3D 3S 4D ???
* (20-22 HCPs -- may be a strong 19)
What is your call as South holding:A83 9874 6 K10976 ?
Pair Fare
News from Northwestern Illinois Unit 239
Editor: Dennis Ryan, 118 Glenview Court, Janesville WI 53545 [email protected]
Frank Greenwald: Life Master Frank Greenwald of Woodstock, one of Unit 239’s most recent Life Masters, typifies an increasingly familiar demographic in our Unit: although he started playing bridge when quite young, only his retirement years afforded him the leisure time in which to take up duplicate seriously and become a Life Master.
Actually, Frank started playing bridge in 1938 in grade school, learning with a group of friends. He played in college and then later in the Navy. He even played in a tournament when he attended the University of Michigan during the post-war years, when he wasn’t yet an ACBL member. But he began duplicate, began collecting masterpoints, and began the joys of building a
serious partnership with his favorite partner -- Tom Hardy of Huntley -- only within the last few years. Frank is living proof that our Unit’s emphasis on marketing bridge to new players of retirement age pays. He made LM playing with Tom in last fall’s Rockford Classic Sectional.
Born and raised in northern Indiana, Frank attended Swarthmore College in the Philadelphia area and the University of Michigan, majoring in physics. He has been an engineering executive for most of his life, including many years with Arnold Engineering of Marengo. His wife Grace plays bridge, but only socially. He has five children: James, a dentist in Princeton WI; Catherine Kilburn, a computer programmer in Raleigh NC; Carolyn, an audiologist in Baltimore MD; Toby, a ceramics engineer in Minneapolis MN; and Keith, of Arlington Heights. He has lived in Woodstock for over 40 years.
Frank recollects one early tournament in which he played sporting a huge cast on one arm. His RHO made a jump overcall, announcing his skip bid, but Frank neglected to wait the “proper” 10 seconds afterward. Al Sobel, the famous tournament director, was summoned, and monitored the remainder of the hand. Seeing that no injury had occurred, Sobel ruled, “I’ll let it go, this time. But if you do it again, I’ll break your other arm.”
Bob DeKeyser: Life Master
“One does not have to travel great distances or stay in expensive hotels to make Life Master. There are good games right here in Unit 239. I earned 285 of my first 300 points right here in Rockford,” asserts Bob DeKeyser of Rockton, one of our Unit’s most recent Life Masters. “Most of my gold points came in KO events right here in our own ‘Rockin’ Rockford Regional,’” he adds. “Life Master status truly is accessible to anyone and everyone who wishes to pursue it.”
Bob made Life Master during our Unit’s STAC games last November -- even those elusive silver points are accessible locally, too. He was playing with Doug Smith (Rockford) in a pairs game at the Bridge Center of Rockford. Bob is vice-president of the Bridge Center.
Bob was born and raised on a farm near Princeton, IL. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana, and his Master’s degree in psychology from Illinois State University in Normal. He has worked as a school psychologist for three years in Iowa, six years in Wisconsin, and is now in his 20th year as a school psychologist in Rockton.
Bob and Mary Lou, his wife of 29 years, have two children: Anna, who works with Rosecranse Mental Health Center in Belivdere; and Matt, a mechanical engineer with Chrysler in Belvidere.
Like so many members of our Unit, Bob began playing bridge in college and discontinued the game.But unlike those who took lessons or who had a “mentor” who took them under their wings, Bob began bridge again in 1999 by walking into the Rockford Bridge Center and playing in an open game cold turkey.“Very cold,” Bob adds with a smile. “And I was a turkey.”
“Many of the same traits I see in children I work with in elementary schools I also see in adults at the bridge table,” Bob asserts. “Responses to stress, competition, and teamwork with others are often universal responses, regardless of life circumstances or age.”
Mini-McKenney, 2005, Unit 239Rookie of the Year:
Karen Pickelsimer, Oakwood Hills, 50.12
Robert Pickelsimer, Oakwood Hills, 49.39
Donna Cart, Rockford, 25.20
Junior Master of the Year:
Paula Demlow, Sandwich, 52.66
William Demlow, Sandwich, 38.30
Betty Hettinger, Aurora, 35.18
Club Master of the Year:
Bernice Nesheim, Rockford, 44.41
Herbert Ahrens, Aurora, 39.77
Ace of Clubs, 2005, Unit 239
Rookie of the Year:
Donna Cart, Rockford, 23.86
John Baird, Sandwich, 19.20
Karen Pickelsimer, Oakwood Hills, 12.50
Junior Master of the Year:
Paula Demlow, Sandwich, 35.19
William Demlow, Sandwich, 20.91
David Wilson, Davis, 20.46
Club Master of the Year:
Bishnu Dutta, Rockford, 35.60
Bishnu Dutta, Rockford, 39.51
Sectional Master of the Year:
Roger Dieringer, Elgin, 70.16
Douglas St. John, Rockford, 60.75
Les Morrison, Poplar Grove, 56.99
Regional Master of the Year:
Richard Gierat, Belvidere, 96.09
Daniel Chamberlain, Rockford, 91.04
Kathryn Chamberlain, Rockford, 90.37
NABC Master of the Year:
Laurie Mamachek, Huntley, 246.81
Lu Jenkins, Rockford, 131.13
Elinor Patrick, Sun City West, AZ, 95.54
Life Master of the Year:
Audrey Danocup, Beloit, WI, 259.97
David Jenkins, Rockford, 106.46
Arlene Snap, Loves Park, 83.52
Bronze Life Master of the Year:
James Hudson, DeKalb, 211.42
Sharon Schumacher, Scottsdale, AZ, 146.79
Marlene Estes, Rockford, 122.84
Silver Life Master of the Year:
Will Engel, Freeport, 915.16
Meyer Abarbanel, Belvidere, 259.79
Dr. Greg Berry, Dundee, 156.43
Gold Life Master of the Year:
John Kinst, Batavia, 520.75
Jack Snyder, Rockford, 193.52
Janice Condon, Rockford, 160.93
Diamond Life Master of the Year:
Joshua Stark, Grayslake, 327.36
Emerald Life Master of the Year:
Suzanne Dunn, Crystal Lake, 325.02
Cheryl Bosak, St. Charles, 34.22
Bernice Nesheim, Rockford, 33.83
Sectional Master of the Year:
Roger Dieringer, Elgin, 55.86
Douglas St. John, Rockford, 46.77
Nancy Sleeth, St. Charles, 35.40
Regional Master of the Year:
Richard Gierat, Belvidere, 55.12
Doris Survant, Elgin, 49.27
Linda Shaw, Geneva, 48.54
NABC Master of the Year:
Laurie Hamachek, Huntley, 65.38
Robert Brightup, Rockford, 64.42
Elinor Patrick, Sun City West AZ, 48.68
Life Master of the Year:
Audrey Danocup, Beloit, WI, 67.99
Loren Van Degraft, Byron, 46.08
Phyllis Seeman, Rockford, 37.31
Bronze Life Master of the Year:
Sharon Schumacher, Scottsdale, AZ, 57.33
Marlene Estes, Rockford, 48.82
Shirley Dommers, Rockford, 47.45
Silver Life Master of the Year:
Alma Karas, Batavia, 105.59
John Diehl, Elgin, 93.51
Mrs. D. Brosseau, Sleepy Hollow, 89.90
Gold Life Master of the Year:
John Kinst, Batavia, 110.98
Jack Snyder, Rockford, 79.34
George Wolf, Oswego, 78.15
Diamond Life Master of the Year:
Joshua Stark, Grayslake, 9.98
Emerald Life Master of the Year:
Suzanne Dunn, Crystal Lake, 34.50
Upcoming Tournaments in Unit 239
Year
Rockin’
Rockford
Regional
Elgin
Spring
Sectional
Elgin
299er
Sectional
Rockford
Classic
Sectional
Aurora
Turkey
Bowl
2006 June 19-25 Already held Aug. 4-6 Sept. 8-10 Nov. 24-26
2007 June 18-24Mar. 2-4 Aug. 3-5 Sept. 7-9 Nov. 23-25
2008 June 16-22Mar. 7-9 Aug. 1-3 Sept. 5-7 Nov. 28-30
2009 June 22-28Mar. 20-22 Aug. 7-9 Sept. 11-13Nov. 27-29
2010 June 21-27Mar. 19-21 Aug. 6-8 Sept. 10-13Nov. 26-28
Rockford Regionals & Rockford Classic Sectionals will all be held at Clock Tower Resort, 7801 E. State St., Rockford.
Elgin Spring Sectionals will all be held at Elgin Community College, 1700 Spartan Dr., Elgin.
299er Sectionals will all be held at Elgin Community Center, 123 Symphony Rd., Elgin.
Turkey Bowl Sectionals will all be held at Prisco Community Center, southeast corner of Rte. 31 & Illinois Ave. in Aurora.
Annual Meeting and Free Unit Membership GameSaturday, April 29 is the date set for the Unit annual meeting, awards ceremony and free membership game. Note that the Unit Board has switched the event, traditionally held on a Friday evening in June, to a Saturday date in hopes more members will be able to attend.
The event will be a brunch at 11:30 and not a pot luck affair. The brunch will be free to Unit members, provided by the Unit. Non-members will be charged $5. The traditional awards ceremony will follow at 12:30, with the free game scheduled for 1 p.m. Those in attendance will be given a non-transferable coupon good for one free session at the 2006 Rockin’ Rockford Regional (June 19-25.)
Minor changes to Unit bylaws will be presented. They will include policy for Board members voting via email and several “corrective wordages.”
We will be returning to the same location where the event was held last year: the First United Methodist Church, Fourth and Oak Streets, in DeKalb. Directions:
From the north and east: Take Illinois Rte. 64 west to Illinois Rte. 23 and turn left (south) into DeKalb. Rte. 23 will turn into Fourth St. Follow that to the Church at Oak St.
From the south and east: Take I-88 west to Peace Rd., where there will be a toll booth requiring the exact change of 55 cents. Turn right (north) onto Peace Rd. to Illinois Rte. 38. Turn left (west) onto Rte. 38 to Rte. 23. Turn right (north) on Rte. 23, which will turn into Fourth St., and follow that to the Church at Oak St.
From the south and west: Take I-88 east to Annie Glidden Rd. where there will be a toll booth requiring the exact change of 55 cents. Turn left (north) to Rte. 38. Turn right (east) to Rte 23
(Fourth St.) Turn left (north) to the Church at Oak St.
From the north and west: Take I-39 south to Rte. 64. Turn left (east) to Rte. 23. Turn right (south) into DeKalb. Rte. 23 will become Fourth St. Follow that to the Church at Oak St.
The Changing Scene . . .
New Junior Masters: Laurence Fitzpatrick, Roscoe.
New Club Masters: Ellen Burke, Aurora; Vicki Vietti, Cary.
New Sectional Masters: Cheryl Bosak, St. Charles; Mrs. B. Busche, St. Charles; Robert Pickelsimer, Oakwood Hills.
Diamond, Emerald & Platinum LMs Gary Kessler, Springfield -- 31 Dan Requard, Springfield -- 29 Karen Walker, Champaign -- 22 Dick Benson, Le Roy -- 18Colby Vernay, Lacon -- 10
Visit the ACBL Awards page to viewlists of the top ten Unit players in eachcategory for 2005 and year-to-date 2006.
Would you like to serve on the Unit Board?If you live in one of the counties below, this is the year to elect your representative to the Unit 208 Board of Directors:
Area #1: Peoria & Tazewell Counties. (Incumbent: Bernie Riley)
Area #4: Cass, Mason, Menard, Morgan, Sangamon & Scott Counties. (Incumbent: Liz Zalar)
Area #7: Champaign, Ford, Piatt & Vermilion Counties. (Incumbent: Dennis Fitton)
The Area Representative meets with the Board three times a year at our Unit sectionals. Anyone from these areas who would like to run for a seat on the Board should send name and ACBL number to the Unit Secretary, Marilyn Stickel by May 1. Elections will be held in May and June. You can contact Marilyn by mail at 204 North Fulton Street, Lacon IL 61540.
Club news: Big dollars raised in SpringfieldThe Wednesday-evening Springfield Duplicate Bridge Club raised a record amount during a recent charity game held for Hope Presbyterian Church, who lost part of their roof during the recent tornadoes in Sprinffield.
The 4.5-table game raised $400. Liz Zalar, owner and manager of the club, said her members felt especially strong about doing something to help the Church and decided on a charity game and pot-luck dinner. Liz said she thought they would do well to raise $50, but she miscalculated the strong feelings her players have for the congregation of Hope.
"They are very kind to us and make us feel like family," said Liz. She said it also helped that the treasurer of the Church is Libby Fox, an 82-year-old newcomer to the duplicate games, and the minister's mother-in-law is Elsa Avery, who is also a regular player.
"I was thrilled to be able to make the donation, but not as thrilled as when Pastor Debra Avery and her office staff hugged me with tears in their eyes," said Liz. "I know every club owner/manager thinks she has great members. I can truthfully say I know mine are and they prove themselves to be great every time I see them at or away from the table."
Coming up on the Central Illinois Calendar:
May 6 & 7 -- District 8 Grand National Teams,
Springfield IL
May 23-29 -- Illini Regional, Chancellor Hotel,
Champaign IL Schedule
June 2 & 3 -- Worldwide Bridge Contest, Local clubs
June, July & August -- North American Pair qualifying games, Local clubs
July 8-10 -- Twin Cities Sectional, Bloomington
Movin' Up: Congratulations to these Unit members who recently advanced in
7:30 -- Big Ten KO Teams (continues Wednesday) 7:30 -- Play for the Pets Charity Pairs
Wednesday, May 24 -- Seniors Day
$4 off 2-session Open Pair entry for ages 65+. 9:30, 1:30 & 7:30 -- Big Ten KO (2nd, 3rd & 4th sess.) 9:30 -- Charity Side Series AM Pairs 1:30 & 7:30 -- Stratified Open Pairs (single-session entries available) 7:30 -- 299er Pairs
Thursday, May 25 -- Illini Fans Day
$2 off your afternoon entry if you wear Illini orange and blue!
9:30 -- Orange & Blue KO Teams (continues Friday) 9:30 -- Charity Side Series AM Pairs 1:30 & 7:30 -- Thu-Fri Side Series Pairs 1:30 & 7:30 -- Strataflighted Swiss Teams (Flt. A separate: Flts. BCD in one event) 7:30 -- 299er Pairs
Friday, May 26 -- Juniors Day
Students age 25 and under play FREE in the Stratified Pairs.
9:30 -- Orange & Blue KO (2nd, 3rd & 4th sess.) 9:30 -- Charity Side Series AM Pairs
Wed.Orange & Blue -- 9:30 Thursday & 9:30, 1:30 & 7:30 FridayChief Illiniwek -- 9:30 Saturday & 9:30, 1:30 & 7:30 Sunday. Dorner-Meyer trophies to winners in bottom bracket.OskeeWowWow Compact KO (two sessions, four 12-board matches) -- 1:30 & 7:30 Sunday
Side-Game Series: Enter any or all sessions. Play two or more sessions in any series to qualify for overall awards (gold points).
Charity Side Series AM Pairs -- 9:30 am, Wednesday through Sunday (to benefit CATSNAP, a local cat rescue center)Thu-Fri Side Series ---- 1:30 & 7:30, Thursday & FridaySat-Sun Side Series ---- 1:30 & 7:30, Saturday & Sunday
Host hotel: Bridge rate ($75 double) and free parking at Hawthorn Suites, 101 Trade Center Drive, one block south of the site of our previous regionals (the old Chancellor Hotel, Neil & Kirby).
The Hawthorn is an all-suites hotel with a free daily hot breakfast buffet and free high-speed Internet. Facilities include a heated indoor pool, Jacuzzi and fitness center. A wide variety of restaurants are within walking distance. Hotel info & driving directions
Reservations: 800-527-1133 or 217-398-3400 (ask for bridge rate). Please reserve by May 15.
1:30 & 7:30 -- Stratified Open Pairs 1:30 & 7:30 -- Thu-Fri Side Series Pairs 7:30 -- 299er Pairs
Saturday, May 27 9:30 -- Chief Illiniwek KO (continues Sunday) 9:30 -- Charity Side Series AM Pairs 1:30 & 7:30 -- Flight A Strataflighted Pairs (qualifying with barometer final) 1:30 & 7:30 -- Flight BCD Pairs 1:30 & 7:30 -- Sat-Sun Side Series Pairs 1:30 -- Easybridge Pairs (0-100) 7:30 -- Barometer Final (2nd sess. of Flt. A Pairs) 7:30 -- 299er Pairs
Sunday, May 28
9:30, 1:30 & 7:30 -- Chief Illiniwek KO (2nd, 3rd & 4th sess.) 9:30 -- Charity Side Series AM Pairs 1:30 & 7:30 -- Sat-Sun Side Series Pairs 1:30 & 7:30 -- OskeeWowWow Compact KO Teams 1:30 & 7:30 -- 299er Pairs (single sessions) 7:30 -- NEW: Board-a-Match Teams
Monday, May 29
9:45 a.m. --- Free continental breakfast. 10:30 a.m. -- FAST Swiss Teams (stratified by team's average MP holding). On the road by 6:00.
Hello, Is This Thing On? The last article in the Advocate drew almost no response, which leaves me wondering. Do the players not care that the games are shrinking, or do they just have no ideas? Both are so unlikely that I am at a loss. I suspect option three, that we, as mere players, feel powerless to make a difference.
I attended the last board meeting, where a new liaison was formed between the board, (which concerns itself mostly with tournaments and awards) and the club managers. The hope and purpose of the group is to stimulate interest and increase attendance at both club games and tournaments. So be assured that those who are running things want to see some more people in the seats.
We players can be active in stimulating interest in the game. We may want to call someone not seen in a while and see if you can give him a ride or find her a partner. I have heard of churches increasing their membership by just having the current members bring a guest. While that won’t work for us, we can steer those who are interested in learning to Mary Hruby, who teaches bridge from ground zero on Tuesdays from 6-8 p.m. at Bridge Haven. If you know someone who knows duplicate but is still new, direct him to Donna Coker’s Thursday-morning novice game at Olivette. Both of these are listed on our web site, www.unit143.com.
If we want to attract younger players, the unit has to come up with more evening games. Perversely, many evening games closed because they are not supported. Would an evening novice game be an option? That way, working people could get their foot in the door.
Finally, in the cool gray light of dawn, we have to admit that many players quit because they were treated badly. People were rude to them. If you know someone like this, please call him or her and grovel. Promise it will never happen again. Directors will get out the tar and feathers for anyone daring to get ugly at their games as the cost of allowing it has been made pretty clear. Mostly, the membership has to speak up and protect those who may be new and uncertain.
There is a phenomenon called “service recovery,” in which studies show that messing up and fixing it score higher than not messing up at all. For example, if the hotel gives your family a single twin bed, then fixes it with the correct room, studies show that the service is perceived as even better than the service provided where there are no mistakes. We know tempers flare and voices are raised occasionally. Now we know we have to step in and fix it.
As always I welcome your ideas for attracting more players. Write me at [email protected]
Unit 223 Reporter News from Southern Illinois-Paducah Unit 223
Editor: Karen Coe, 12761 Webb Hill Rd., Ewing IL 62836 (618-435-4200) [email protected]
District 8 Winter STaC results
Unit 223 players who placed in the top twenty positions on the "Top 100 Masterpoint Winners List" in the District 8 Winter STaC (held Feb. 3rd though 9th) were:
6th & 7th: Sandra and Larry Lemon, Mayfield , KY , 20.06 points
9th: Dalton Darnell, Murray , KY , 18.79 points
10th: Doug Edwards, Hardin , KY , 17.94 points
15th & 16th: Bruce Gardner and Robin Lampley, Paducah , 16.76 points
District 8's first-place over-all masterpoint winner was Richard Sullivan, Decatur IN, with a total of 34.98 points.
The next opportunity to win Silver Points in a District 8 STaC will be Oct. 31st through Nov. 6th , 2006 .
Congratulations to the following Unit 223 members who have advanced in rank:
New Junior Masters: Bonnadean Reimer, Mt. Vernon & Janet Rose, Edwardsville
New Club Master: Steve Shoeffler, Edwardsville
New Regional Masters: Marion McCaskey, Centralia & Ann Smith, Johnston City
And a special congratulations to new Life Master Bud Hawkins, Mt. Vernon.
Welcome to new Unit 223 Members Debbie Garnier, Centralia & Gloria and James Zupanci, Edwardsville
Winners of Unit 223’s 2005 Masterpoint Races
Ace of Clubs:
Rookie of the Year: 1. Steve Shoeffler, Edwardsville IL 2. Barbara Hamilton, Waterloo IL 3. Marilyn Hayes, Mt. Carmel IL
Jr. Master of the Year: 1. Jill Woolf, Carbondale IL 2. Ann Smith, Johnston City IL 3. Wanda Culpepper, Cahokia IL
Club Master of the Year: 1. Larry Farris, Alton IL 2. Dorothy Bione, Christopher IL 3. Jerry Cooksey, Centrailia IL
Sectional Master of the Year: 1. Bill Petrie, Mayfield KY 2. 2. Leona Bullock, DuQuoin IL 3. Raymond Ford, Highland IL
Regional Master of the Year: 1. Bud Hawkins, Mt. Vernon IL 2. Doris Lattus, Hickman KY 3. Colleen Sanders, Centralia IL
NABC Master of the Year: 1. Erdine Peknik, Herrin IL 2. Betty Fields, Hickman KY 3. Peggy Brady, Mayfield KY
Life Master of the Year: 1. Jane Baker, Paducah KY 2. Sharon Henneke, Paducah KY 3. Paul Quayle, Gilbertsville KY
Bronze Life Master of the Year: 1. Andrew Carver, Edwardsville IL 2. Brenda Gagnon, Paducah KY 3. Prof Krzysztof, Edwardsville IL
Silver Life Master of the Year: 1. Ralph Rotter, Granite City IL
Mini-McKenney:
Rookie of the Year: 1. Steve Shoeffler, Edwardsville IL 2. Barbara Hamilton, Waterloo IL 3. Marilyn Hayes, Mt. Carmel IL
Jr. Master of the Year: 1. Ann Smith, Johnston City IL 2. Jill Woolf, Carbondale IL 3. Wanda Culpepper, Cahokia IL
Club Master of the Year: 1. Larry Farris, Alton IL 2. Jerry Cooksey, Centrailia IL 3. James Pirkle, Glen Carbon IL
Sectional Master of the Year: 1. Bill Petrie, Mayfield KY 2. Jim Baumeister, Marion IL 3. Grady Thurman, Nashville TN
Regional Master of the Year: 1. Bud Hawkins, Mt. Vernon IL 2. Carol Warner, Fairview Hgts IL 3. Mary Johnson, Godfrey IL
NABC Master of the Year: 1. Tim Butterbaugh, Paducah KY 2. Doris Holzhauer, Centrailia IL 3. Patricia Barinotti, Edwardsville IL
Life Master of the Year: 1. Doug McQuaid, Lebanon IL 2. Paul Quayle, Gilbertsville KY 3. Jane Baker, Paducah KY
Bronze Life Master of the Year: 1. Andrew Carver, Edwardsville IL 2. Norma Cloyd, Paducah KY 3. Dr John Coe, Ewing IL
Silver Life Master of the Year: 1. Col Christopher Shaw, Carlinville IL
2. Fran Russell, Paducah KY 3. Joann Knox, Metropolis IL
Gold Life Master of the Year: 1. Julia Rambo, Mayfield KY 2. Dalton Darnell, Murray KY 3. Jo Echols, Paducah KY
Diamond Life Master of the Year: 1. Bob Giles, Marion IL
2. Linda Lubeck, Troy IL 3. Fran Russell, Paducah KY
Gold Life Master of the Year: 1. Dalton Darnell, Murray KY 2. Doug Edwards, Hardin KY 3. Julia Rambo, Mayfield KY
Diamond Life Master of the Year: 1. Bob Giles, Marion IL
Awards were announced and presented to recipients present at Kentucky Dam Village Sectional, Gilbertsville , KY on Sunday, March 4th. Congratulations to all the 2005 Masterpoint Race winners for their fine performances!
For a complete list of the top 10 places in each category, visit the ACBL website at www.acbl.org. (Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on Masterpoint Races. Information on Unit, District and National masterpoint races is available.)
Upcoming tournaments:
Unit 223’s next tournament will be the Pioneer Sectional in Effingham IL on April 22nd and 23rd. Site is Hendlemeyer Park ( 1906 S. 4th St. ). For information, see the ad in this issue or contact Kate Dickens at (217)-868-5462. The Partnership Desk will open one hour before game time. Play starts on Saturday, April 22nd at 1:00 and continues at 7:00 . On Sunday, a super dinner will be available between sessions of Swiss Teams.
Please make a note now on your calendar to attend the upcoming Champagne Regional to be held in Paducah, KY at the Executive Inn on June 13th through June 19th.
MIDWEST TOURNAMENT CALENDAR
April 01-09 SPRING NABC, Hyatt Regency, Dallas Daily Bulletins 07-09 Dubuque IA Sectional 07-09 Kenosha WI Sectional 17-23 GATLINBURG TN REGIONAL (Schedule) 22-23 Effingham IL Sectional, Hendelmeyer Park (Kate Dickens)
May 01-07 LAKE GENEVA WI REGIONAL, Grand Geneva Resort (Schedule) 06-07 DISTRICT 8 GRAND NATIONAL TEAMS, IDOT Building, Springfield IL 15-21 HOT SPRINGS AR REGIONAL, Arlington Hotel (Schedule) 19-21 St. Charles MO Sectional, Blanchette Park (Mike Carmen) 23-29 ILLINI REGIONAL, Chancellor Hotel, Champaign IL (Karen Walker) 31-04 SPRINGFIELD MO REGIONAL, Holiday Inn (Schedule)
June 02-03 Worldwide Pairs, Local clubs (Friday evening & Saturday day) 07-11 Minocqua-Lakeland Sectional, Woodruff WI 16-18 Kokomo IN Sectional, Johanning Civic Center (Dick Ellis) 19-25 DISTRICT 8 SPLIT REGIONAL: Executive Inn, Paducah KY & Clock Tower Resort, Rockford IL
Complete schedule of ACBL tournaments: http://www.acbl.org
District 8 web site: http://home.insightbb.com/~m.tomlianovich/d8.htm
District 8 Tournament Coordinator: Chris Patrias 515 Chesapeake Court, St. Charles MO 63303 Phone: 636-928-8610
Paducah Champagne Regional
June 19-25, 2006 – Paducah KYExecutive Inn, overlooking the Ohio River
Split with Rockford IL
Memorable Paducah Hospitality
Hospitality rooms with an open bar
Unique Champagne Party
Buffet soup and salad between sessions on Sunday
Free Coffee
SIX BRACKETED KO TEAMS: One starts each day, Mon. – Sat.
FIVE REGIONAL PAIRS CHAMPIONSHIPS: One each day, Tue. – Sat. Note: In a Stratified Open Choice Pairs, a pair must play in two and only two of the three available sessions.
299er GAMES on Thursday & Saturday
NOVICE LECTURES on Thursday, Friday, & Saturday between sessions
SINGLE SESSION PAIRS: Available each session, Mon. – Sat.
● Side Game Series #1-- 2:00 & 7:00, Tue-Wed-Thu.
● Side Game Series #2 – 2:00 & 7:00, Fri. & Sat.Note: A player must play at least 2 sessions of the same series to win GOLD POINTS or place overall.
Strata & flights: C = 0-500 B = 500-1500 A = 1500+
Events Other Than Side Games
MONDAY—JUNE 19CHARITY PAIRS 7:00 PM (ONE SESSION)
BRACKETED K.O. #1 7:00, CONTINUES TUE 9:30, 2 & 7
TUESDAY—JUNE 20STRATIFIED OPEN CHOICE PAIRS #1 9:30 AM, 2:00 PM & 7:00 PM. (PLAY IN TWO AND ONLY TWO OF THE THREE SESSIONS)
SUNDAY—JUNE 25STRATIFIED SWISS TEAMS 10:00 AM & TBA
Tournament site:
Executive Inn, One Executive Blvd., Paducah KY1-800-866-3636 or 1-270-443-8000Be sure to ask for the bridge rate: $57 – 1 or 2 people; $62 – 3 or 4 people
* “Open Choice Pairs” -- play in two of the three sessions offered on the same day. Stratified event.
Bridge rate ($65 double) at the Clock Tower Resort. To reserve, call 815-398-6000 or 800-358-7666 and refer to ACBL Unit 239 Bridge. Please reserve by May 19.
9:00 am – Knockout Teams (continues at 1:30 & 7:30)1:30 & 7:30 -- Two-session Stratified Open Pairs1:30 & 7:30 -- Single-session Novice/Intermediate Pairs (0-200)1:30 & 7:30 -- Single-session Side Games
Sunday, May 21
10 a.m. & TBA -- Two-session Stratified Swiss Teams
Sat. & Sun. Strata: A=Open B=0-1500 C=0-500
● Guest speakers on Friday and Saturday -- 12:45 and 6:45
● Terrific hospitality after the evening sessions.
● Saturday: Lunch buffet for all KO Team entrants.
● Sunday: Continental breakfast (9:00 am) and hot buffet dinner between sessions.
Directions: From I-70, take 5th Street north 1.8 miles to Randolph. Turn left and go 1/2 mile to the park entrance on the right (1900 W. Randolph).
